Ask Secretary Ryan Zinke to protect Bears Ears

Originally posted on Action Utah. To see the original post, click here.

Ryan Zinke was confirmed as Interior Secretary on Wednesday and hit the ground running by repealing a rule Obama created on the last day of his presidency to prohibit the use of lead ammunition and tackle on all FWS wildlife refuges to prevent lead poisoning in plants, animals and water sources. This little action on day one confirmed that Zinke will stand squarely on the side Trump politics by supporting the gun lobby, demonizing environmentalists and furthering the perception that all of Obama’s executive orders are “overreach”.

Of particular concern are Zinke’s stances on climate change (he’s a debater) and on public lands. Before the election Zinke stood firmly against the transfer of public lands into state hands. However, so did Donald Trump. Now Trump has flip-flopped in his multiple meetings with our Utah delegation members as they plead with him to repeal Bears Ears National Monument and dramatically reduce the scale of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

In January, Zinke told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: “When it comes to a monument, I think the state should have a say on it. There’s no doubt the president has the power to amend a monument. It will be interesting to see if a president can nullify a monument. Legally, it’s untested.”

The fate of Bears Ears is now in question, prompting protestors to gather outside of Zinke’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday to support for the new National Monument. Zinke has said one of his first priorities is to come to Utah to listen to views on the Bears Ears. Let’s make sure he hears the voices of a majority of Utahns, including Native voices, who support Bears Ears National Monument.

CALL TO ACTION

Call or email Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to ask him to hear and honor Native voices on Bears Ears in Utah and to protect the National Monument. (202) 208-7351, exsec_exsec@ios.doi.gov

Sign this Utah Dine Bikeyah petition to show your support for Bears Ears and to tell Ryan Zinke to listen to tribes and leave the Bears Ears boundaries alone, trending now on our Petitions! Petitions! page.